Benefits of virgin Platinum when travelling on Delta

[Cryptarcadian]

Just got back from the US travelling as VA platinum... very smooth process getting into Delta Sky Clubs in LAX T2, LAX T3, MSY and JFK T4. Every staff member I encountered knew that VA status entitled access.

At most of the lounges they had someone with a handheld scanner to scan boarding passes -- if you see those, skip and go straight to the staffed counter, because scanning the barcode alone doesn't work and they need to sight your VA card. From what I can tell, this is simply so they can read the number off it and type it in.

(Funnily enough, more than once they automatically asked for my Amex Platinum card to start with. I guess that's how many Americans get access?)

As for additional baggage, this always showed up for me within the Delta app at check-in. However, despite being recognised as "Platinum Medallion" it looks like you may only get the "Gold Medallion" additional allowance, which is in line with what the VA website says anyway.

Check-in was easy at the Sky Priority counters (and the quite nice dedicated Sky Priority area at JFK T4), and there was also no problem using the Sky Priority lanes through TSA with either an Apple Wallet boarding pass or a physical paper one.

Didn't attempt group priority boarding as we always left the lounge on the late side, but was happily accepted when we rocked up at the Sky Priority lane after Main Cabin 1 boarding had started. One gate agent in particular made the point of calling out to the other gate agent who initially didn't see us: "hey, make sure you board the priority folks first!" (imagine that, QF!).

All in all, a very consistent experience flying DL with VA status -- more than can be said for VA sometimes!

 

[jpp42]

I've also had great experiences with Delta as VA WP. A few additional notes:

* Delta now offers the ability for a paid upgrade to domestic first class (for short-haul this should be considered more like J - I'm not referring not their Delta One premium offering on transcon flights), for what can sometimes be a very reasonable amount. I upgraded ATL-ORF for only US $55 - mind you less than an hour-long flight but still nice. You can also use Delta points for this (on a dollars-to-point exchange rate, for a confirmed booking - not like the waitlisted points upgrades done in AU). This was off a relatively low booking class if I remember correctly - the ticket only cost around US$100 . Just check via the Delta web site if this is available. You get J/F points/status credits for this too.

* It is not clear to me if this is an official published benefit, but it seems Delta considers VA elites somewhere in the mix for their at-the-gate upgrades. I received an free upgrade Y to J (let's call it), on my return ORF-ATL . I suppose the alternative is that I was selected manually by the agent as an op-up. But clearly either the system or the gate agent was able to find my status, as there's no other reason I should have been selected for that upgrade - it was an MD-82 with only 8 "J" seats and a full flight in Y, and again I was on a relatively cheap booking class.

The downside of these upgrades is that don't expect any food service or much other service of any kind in domestic "First" on a short flight - they just pass around a basket full of snacks (pretzels, chips, etc) to select from and maybe a brief drink service if you're lucky, but I think one of my sectors they only passed out water bottles.

Also, the SKY Priority notation on your boarding pass is good for express security lines at some airports. In Atlanta, Delta's major hub, the SKY priority lines are in an entirely different section of the departure hall. JFK also has separate premium check-in with SKY Priority security behind that area. So be sure to ask if there are Sky Priority lanes at your local airport - participation in this varies (I think the airlines have to pay extra to the TSA for this service). Note that this is different to TSA Pre-Check, and in my experience the Sky Priority/premium lines were shorter and faster than TSA Pre-check.

 

[natanya]

Just bumping this a little as I have six Delta flights as VA Platinum this November/December with my husband. I contacted Delta to confirm baggage allowance would be the same as their Gold and got the following response:

"You would only get two 70 pound bags for free if you're flying first class domestically. Otherwise you would have to pay the normal baggage fee.
First checked bag is up to fifty pounds and is $30
Second checked bag is fifty pounds and is $40"

I've replied with the Virgin website screenshot that indicates this is incorrect but they haven't gotten back to me. As we are carrying a lot of heavy winter clothes I'm concerned about baggage allowance - can anyone comment further on their real-world experiences and/or suggest a better contact point to confirm this? Much appreciated!

 

[jpp42]

Certainly I have never had any issues with the first bag being free with Delta when flying as VA WP. But I only travel with a single 15kg checked bag. My impression is that VA WP maps internally to one of their statuses, and on many screens they see you as that status. So although the agents may be unfamiliar with VA, they see the status a different way and have no issues honouring the baggage allowance that way.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

​

Check out the date.

Also, my #FF number was in the booking and on the BP. Points never posted to account (still haven't posted to my Virgin account). Kind of sums up Virgin really....

 

[McLarin]

Certainly I have never had any issues with the first bag being free with Delta when flying as VA WP. But I only travel with a single 15kg checked bag. My impression is that VA WP maps internally to one of their statuses, and on many screens they see you as that status. So although the agents may be unfamiliar with VA, they see the status a different way and have no issues honouring the baggage allowance that way.

On Nov 4 my mother's status Platinum status transferred over as Platinum (rather than Gold as per VA's website) on the Delta app. When challenged by the check-in agent, mums simply showed him the app with her status as platinum and successfully checked in 3 bags for her domestic flight.

 

[McLarin]

Just want to highlight my recent experiences travelling on Delta over the past 3 weeks.

Trip 1: LAX to CUN
Was departing from terminal 2 so proceeded over there only to be told that I can check in on a kiosk but I will have to bag drop at Terminal 3. No issues receiving the stated benefits and luggage allowance.

Trip 2: CUN to AGS via ATL
No issues with luggage allowance or benefits

Trip 3: DCA to LAX via MSP
Utilised curbside check-in at DCA. No issues with luggage allowance and were tagged as priority appropriately. Sky Priority status not recognised for Security line. I ascertain blame onto the TSA agent rather than Delta whom directed me into the incorrect line as Sky Priority line was not clearly marked.

Trip 4: SAN to MEL via LAX
This flight was a complete mess. Received a notification that flight was delayed 2 hours, this would have left 15 minute window to make connecting flight. Options provided in app however not willing to take two stops (via LAS or SYD) to get home. Travelled to the airport and spoke to a gentlemen doing Sky Priority check in.
Was swiftly transferred onto a AA flight so that I would make my connecting flight to Melbourne. Greatly appreciated the efforts he went to to ensure that I was in LAX in time. Downside to this was that I had to collect checked baggage transfer terminals and then re-check the bags. Personally, I was willing to do this in order to make my flight.
During re-check in of bags is where an issue occurred. Myself and my mother have gold and platinum status respectively, my father does not have status. With 6 bags to check in, they were divided up as two each. Upon collecting them at MEL we noticed that only 4 of the 6 bags were priority with my father's bags being the 2 which were not correctly tagged as priority.

Overall, generally pleased with how Delta treat the Virgin elites. Never had any issues entering the sky clubs and aside from the hiccups going home was a pain free experience.

 

[CPMaverick]

* Delta now offers the ability for a paid upgrade to domestic first class ....... Just check via the Delta web site if this is available. You get J/F points/status credits for this too.

Just a caveat here; if you upgrade via the website before check-in, you are correct that you will earn J/F status credits just as if you booked J/F originally. HOWEVER, if you upgrade during online-check-in (sometimes cheap offers pop-up then), you will NOT earn any extra status credits, you'll only earn for your original booking class.

Just bumping this a little as I have six Delta flights as VA Platinum this November/December with my husband. I contacted Delta to confirm baggage allowance would be the same as their Gold and got the following response:

"You would only get two 70 pound bags for free if you're flying first class domestically. Otherwise you would have to pay the normal baggage fee.
First checked bag is up to fifty pounds and is $30
Second checked bag is fifty pounds and is $40"

In the real-world, the airport does seem to treat VA elites as their equivalent Dl counterparts regarding luggage. However it is important to note that the luggage system is complicated, even for elites. For example, you can get 70 lb allowance domestically, but the limit between US-Australia for economy (regardless of status) is still only 50 lbs.

Reference this page for details.

Checked Baggage Size, Weight Limit & Fees : Delta Air Lines

Learn everything you need to know about checked baggage for your flight - from Delta Air Lines baggage fees to size and weight restrictions.

www.delta.com

 

[natanya]

Thanks all for your advice and personal experiences - much appreciated! We are flying VA business to and from the US so it’s really just the internals I’m worried about but it sounds like hopefully we’ll get the Gold Medallion domestic allowance. I will bring the relevant web links with me too to hopefully clear up any possible confusion when checking in!

 

[Bugman]

Anyone have experience with complimentary luggage allowance? the delta website states this "The benefit extends on the Medallion Member’s reservation to a total of 8 travel companions, when traveling on a Delta-operated flight" Considering how as Velocity Elite members it states " Receive the same allowance as Delta Gold Medallion Members" Does this benefit then extend to Velocity members. Looking forward to hearing people's thoughts

Have you been able to answer this since posting? I'm keen to know as we're planning a trip in June where this would be most helpful!!!

 

[traceyy]

i had no trouble with luggage as a gold member flying internal on delta.

 

[Bugman]

i had no trouble with luggage as a gold member flying internal on delta.

Did it extend to your travelling companions too?

 

[Muppet501st]

Did it extend to your travelling companions too?

I have it extended to 3 others on the same booking

 

[traceyy]

yes it did. i travelled with 2 others

 

[McLarin]

Have you been able to answer this since posting? I'm keen to know as we're planning a trip in June where this would be most helpful!!!

Hi Shragi,

I can confirm that this did extend to travel companions on the same bookings. This worked for both my internal US flights and my flight to Cancun and back to the US. Hope this helps with your planning.

 

[Bugman]

That's perfect. We're just looking at an internal BDL-CUN Via ATL and want to be sure as it could be very costly otherwise. There are 11 of us travelling including kids.

 

[CPMaverick]

It used to be a limitation of DL systems that all passengers on a PNR had the same baggage allowance. I'm not sure if it is still the case, but I'd be 99% sure that Delta wouldn't have a different system for VA elites than they do for DL elites. So you should get the same allowance for all passengers on a PNR.

Note that you can only have up to 9 passengers on a PNR. So if you have 11, at least 2 won't get the benefit of status. If you book everyone separately, you will NOT be able to share your status for baggage purposes. So make sure to put the maximum people on the PNR with the status pax.

 

[theblank]

So the booking came through and it didn't include baggage. It says we need to pay $30 USD per checked bag. I know Platinum status comes with free checked bags. So I called Delta and they said we can show our Platinum card on check in and receive 2 free checked bags up to 32kg each.

It should be automatic at checkin, you wont get charged. I *think* your travel companions on the same booking/ticket also get the same benefit.

So I asked about Delta's complimentary upgrade for Medallion/Platinum members from Main cabin to Comfort + they said that they could honour that for Velocity Platinum members but not the entire travelling party. Just the one person.

That is correct but the Delta customer service not always exactly familiar with reciprical benefits but its all listed on both the Virgin AU and Delta information websites, you need to read both, but it does take some understanding. I have to read it about 10x

 

[CPMaverick]

Delta elites get 1 companion upgrade to comfort plus. According to Velocity, their members don't receive this benefit. Delta Comfort upgrade| Velocity Frequent Flyer